Improvement in letter-boxes



v 2Sheets--Sheet|.

1.1. DB BARRY, T. L G. A. T.LUNDHV|ST.

Letter-Boxes.

No. 166,074, Patentedluly27',l875.

Unrrnn STATES PATENT FFIGE.

JAMES J. DE BARRY, THORVALD J. LUNDQVIST, AND ALEXIUS LUNDQVIST, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,074, dated July 27,1875; application filed May 20, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMEs J. DE BARRY, THo RVALD J OHANNES LUNDQVIST,and ALEX- IUs THEODOR LUNDQVIST, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLetter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification This inventionrelates to certain improvements in mail-boxes, its object being toproduce a box in which the opening for the insertion of the mail will beautomatically closed when a given quantity or weight of mail iscollected.

Our invention consists in a box of any desired shape, provided with aweighted lever in the upper part, one end of which is pivoted to avertically-reciprocating frame, to the upper end of which is secured ametallic plate, adapted to cover the openings in the box when drawndown, the lower end of said frame being connected to one end of aplatform, pivoted near its other end to the bottom of the box, in suchmanner that when a given amount of mail-matter is deposited it will bedepressed by'the weight of the same, and close the opening.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the box witha portion of its walls removed, and Fig. 2 a sectional view of the same.

The letter A represents a rectangular or other shaped box, constructedof iron or other suitable material, and provided with an opening, B, forthe insertion of the mail, and a door, U,'for its removal. D representsa lever in the upper part of the box, setting loosely in a standard, D,projecting from one side of the box, said standard forming the fulcrumof the lever. 0n the rear end of said lever is a sliding weight, E,which can be set at any desired distance from the fulcrum, and confinedwhen set by means of a set-screw, F. i

. tached to the same.

The lever may be graduated similar to a scale-beam, in order to adjustthe weight, if desired. The front end of said lever is formed with across-head, G, which is pivoted at each end to the upper end of avertica11y-reciprocating frame, H, extending down the front of the box,and working, in guides I, at-

The lower ends of said frame are bent toward each other at right angles,and set loosely in hooks K K, attached to the front end of a tiltingtable, L, the rear portion of which is pivoted between standards M M,attached to the bottom of the box.

To one side of the frame H is secured a pin, N, which is adapted tocatch under a springfastening, P, on the door of the box, and hold theframe down when the table drops, in order to keep the plate over theopening, and prevent it from being thrown away from the same byinstruments inserted through said opening.

The operation of our invention will be readily understood. When the boxis empty, the weight of the lever keeps the plate elevated above themail-opening. The weight on the lever, being adjustable, may be set sothat the table will be dropped when any given weight of mail-matter hasaccumulated. The mail is inserted through the opening for the purpose,as usual, and, when sufficient has been deposited to overbalance theweight on the lever, will bear down the tilting table, depressing thereciprocating frame and plate, and covering the mail-opening. The pin onthe frame, when the same is depressed, will catch under thespring-fastening on the door of the box, and securely hold the sameuntil the door is opened by the proper authorities for the removal ofthe mail-matter.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 1 A letter-box in which is combined a table, L,pivoted near one end, vertical rods H,

being pushed away from the mail-opening,

substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands.

JAME J. DE BARRY. THORVALD JOHANNES LUNDQVIST. ALEXIUS THEODORLUNDQVla'T.

Witnesses to T. J. and A. '1. LUNDQVIST:

J OHN P. TROY, B. I. YORK. Witnesses to J. J. DE BARRY:

A. H. NoRRIs, J os. L. OooMBs.

